Stringing pianos



v (No Model.)

0. S. WEBER. STRINGING PIANOS- v N0. 416,2 01. Patented Dec. 3, 1889.

v VIII/[III] 11/4.

ToaZZ whom it may cmwern:

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIcE.

onAnLns s. WEBER, on sAN Josn, CALIFORNIA.

STRINGING PIANOS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 416,201, dated December3, 1889.

Application filed April 8, 1889. Serial No. 306,366. (No model.)

Be'it known that I, CHARLES S. WVEBER, a citizen of the United States,residing at San Jos,in the county of Santa Clara and State ofCalifornia, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements inStringing Pianos; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear,and exact description of the invention, such as will enable othersskilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters ofreference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to the method of stringing pianos, and mostespecially to the means or tensional cushion for supporting the soundboard against the pressure of the strings when the latter are caused tobear upon the sound-board at right angles to the plane thereof.

This invention, while especially designed 'for pianos, is equallysuitable for all kinds of stringed instruments, such changes being madeas are rendered necessary to adapt it to the instrument required.

The improvement consists of a tensional cushion, which is composed of acentral core and tensionals upon both faces of the core, a space ofproper length and height being left between the opposing faces or sidesof the said core and the tensionals, whereby the latter can Vibrate inunison with the soundboard and not detract from its vibratory qualities.The tensionals are supported on ridges near each edge of the core andmaybe separate pieces-one for each side of the core-or, may be a singlepiece encircling the core, the latter being the preferable construction,as it equalizes the strain and compression 011 the said core, so that itwill not be liable to warp.

The improvement further consists of the novel features and peculiarconstruction and combination of the parts, which will be here'- inaftermore fully described and claimed.

1n the drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional view, parts being broken away,of the stringframe, case, and sound-board of a piano, showing theapplication of my invention; Fig. 2, atop plan view of a modified formof tension al cushion; Fig. 3, a cross-section of the cushion shown inFig. 2; Fig- 4, a top plan view of a tensional cushion made to conformto the outline of a bridge of an ordinary piano, and tapering in widthfrom end to end proportionate to the diminution of the length of thepiano-strings, whereby the supporting capabilities of the tensionalswill be inversely as the ratio of the tension on the musical strings;and Fig. 5, a top plan View of a tensional cushion composed of aplurality of sections graduated to correspond with the "arying tensionof the musical strings.

The string-frame A, sound-board B, and easing O are of usual andwell-known construction, and are shown to illustrate the principle andapplication of my invention. The

musical strings D are deflected from the sound-board by the bridge I)and press against the sound-board at right angles to the plane thereof.The tensional cushion E is arranged between the sound-board and the case0 or other rigid part of the frame of the case, and is composed of thecore F and the upper and the lower tensionals G and H, respectively.These tensionals G and H are supported or press on ridges near each edgeof the core, by which that portion between said ridges is held a properdistance from the core. These ridges may be integral with the core, andare formed by thickening the core at or near its edges, as shown mostclearly in Fig. 1; or they may be separate bars f placed on the core, asshown in Figs. 2 and The upper tensional G may be separate from thelower tensional, as will be readily understood; but the best results areobtained and the cushion rendered more economical of construction anddurable by having the said tensionals formed of a single piece whichencircles the core. The tensionals are composed of any suitablematerial, and may be in the shape of a diaphragm,or composed of a seriesof strands, the latter being preferable, in that each element of thetensional can be strained to its maximum limit, thereby producing acushion that will not give to any appreciable extent after a reasonablelength of time. The material best adapted for the tensional is finesteel wire, which is wound around the core and spaced at properintervals, being tightened by suitable means.

In Figs. 2 and 3 is shown a construction by which t-hetensionals can betightened by driving the cross-bars f nearer the edges of the core.

The sound-board is provided on its nether or reverse side with a ridgeor supplemental bridge h,'which is directly opposite and follows thecourse of the bridge I). The tensional cushion is placed between thesupplemental bridge Z) and a corresponding ridge 2' on the case, andconforms in outline to the contour of the said ridges h and'i, so thatthe latter may bear on the tensionals of the cushion on a line midwaybetween the edges of the said cushion, which line represents the maxiumelasticity of the tensionals, as will be readily comprehended.

It is well known that the tension on the treble strings is higher thanon the bass strings, and that the tension on the strings is graduatedbetween the extreme treble and bass strings; hence, to compensate forthe Variable tension it has been found expedient to gradually reduce thewidth of tensional cushion, as shown in Fig. 4:, or to provide a seriesof cushions 01": graduated sizes, as shown in Fig. 5, proportionate tothe strain to be supported thereby.

Any well-known means that will admit of the-free vibration of thesound-board can be provided to prevent the displacement of the tensionalcushion during transportation of the instrument, or to fix its positionrelative to the sound-board and case.

Having thus described my invention, whatI claim, and desire to secure byLetters Patent,

1. The combination, with the sound-board, the musical strings exerting apressure on the sound-board at right angles to the plane thereof, andthe case or frame, of the tensional cushion for sustaining thesound-board, placed or suspended between two ridge-like projections, oneon the sound-board,"the other on the case orframe, substantially as setforth.

2. In a stringed instrument, the combination, with the sound-board andthe musical strings exerting a pressure on the sound-board at rightangles to the plane thereof, of the tensional cushion for sustaining thesoundboard against the pressure of the musical strings, the tensionalsof said cushion being graduated, substantially as and for the purposedescribed.

3. The combination, with the sound-board, the musical strings exerting apressure against the sound-board, the frame or case, and two ridge-likeprojections, one on the sound-board and the other 011 the case or framein the same plane with the line of pressure of said musical strings onthe sound-board, of the tensional cushion supported midway of its edgesbetween the said ridge-like project-ions, substantially as and for thepurpose specified.

4. The herein-described tensiona-l cushion for the purpose described,composed of a core and an upper and lower tensional supported on ridgesat or near the edges of the said core, substantially as described.

5. The herein-described tensional cushion, composed of a core and anupper and a lower tensional formed of a single piece, whichencircles'the said core, substantially as described.

6. A tensional cushion for the purpose described, composed of a corehaving ridges at each edge and having a strand wound around the core toform upper and lower tensionals, substantially as and for the purposedescribed.

7. The combination, with the core and the bars f at each edge, of thestrand wound around the core, substantially as and for the purposedescribed.

In testimony whereof-I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES S. WEBER.

Witnesses:

S. A. TERRY, VAN BUREN HILLYARD.

